What you need for National Outdoor Play Day
A National Outdoor Play Day needs more than balls and games. Plan supplies for several activity areas, a drinks station, shade or shelter, snacks, registration and small prizes. The final shopping list depends on your attendance, but quantities are easier to estimate when you group items by use: one station setup, one refreshment point and enough equipment for teams to play without waiting. Check the forecast before buying chilled food or committing to an outdoor-only setup.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Party tentqty 2
- Foldable tablesqty 8
- Folding chairsqty 40
- Picnic tablesqty 4
- Buffet tablesqty 3
- Coolersqty 4
Sports equipment
- Footballsqty 6
- Basketballsqty 3
- Volleyballqty 2
- Tennis ballsqty 12
- Soft ballsqty 10
- Frisbeesqty 8
- Skipping ropesqty 12
- Hoopsqty 12
- Conesqty 30
- Relay batonsqty 8
- Water tubsqty 6
- Sponge ballsqty 20
- Water gunsqty 15
- Tug of war ropeqty 2
- Race bagsqty 12
- Sidewalk chalkqty 12
- Bubble solutionqty 12
- Parachute cloth
- Treasure chest
- Playing cardsqty 10
- Hourglassesqty 6
- Starting whistlesqty 6
- Trophiesqty 12
- Medal ribbonsqty 30
Equipment
- Bluetooth speakerqty 2
- Wireless microphone
- Extension cordsqty 4
- Power stripsqty 3
Lighting
- LED light stringsqty 6
- LED lampsqty 8
Decorations
- Buntingqty 8
- Balloonsqty 150
- Balloon pumpqty 2
- Barrier tapeqty 4
- Directional signsqty 12
- Information boardsqty 4
- Whiteboardsqty 2
- Markersqty 24
Tableware
- Reusable cupsqty 150
- Reusable platesqty 100
- Reusable cutleryqty 120
- Serving plattersqty 12
- Pitcherqty 6
Kitchen
- Coffee makerqty 2
- Kettleqty 2
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Bread knivesqty 4
- Kitchen knivesqty 4
- Pliersqty 6
- Serving spoonsqty 6
- Thermos flasksqty 4
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 8
- Broomqty 3
- Dustpan and brushqty 3
- Bucketsqty 4
- Spongesqty 12
- Washing-up basinsqty 6
Catering
- Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Chocolate milk - 6 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Still water - 24 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Lemonade syrup - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 bags
- Lemons - 2 kilos
- Apples - 8 kilos
- Bananas - 6 kilos
- Grapes - 5 kilos
- Strawberries - 4 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Carrots - 4 kilos
- Bell peppers - 3 kilos
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Grape juice - 4 cartons
- Mini carrots - 3 kilos
- Hummus - 12 tubs
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Boiled ham - 2 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilos
- Peanut butter - 4 jars
- Apple syrup - 3 jars
- Jam - 4 jars
- Bread - 20 loaves
- Buns - 100 pieces
- Gluten-free bread - 3 loaves
- Currant buns - 50 pieces
- Mini wraps - 100 pieces
- Tortilla chips - 12 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Pretzels - 6 bags
- Popcorn - 6 bags
- Rice cakes - 6 packs
- Cookies - 10 packs
- Brownies - 8 boxes
- Mini ice pops - 150 pieces
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 4 bottles
- Mustard - 3 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Herb mix - 4 jars
- Napkins - 500 pieces
- Paper straws - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Liquid hand soap - 6 bottles
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 8 packs
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Freezer bags - 4 boxes
- Nitrile gloves - 4 boxes
- Sunscreen - 12 bottles
- Bandages - 4 boxes
- Cold packs - 6 pcs
- Paper cups - 100 pieces
- Wooden popsicle sticks - 200 pieces
- Colored pencils - 48 pieces
- Markers - 48 pieces
- Colored paper - 10 packs
- Craft cardboard - 10 packs
- Glue sticks - 24 pieces
- Children's scissors - 12 pieces
- Glitter glue - 12 tubes
- Coloring pages - 200 pieces
- Sticker booklets - 30 pcs
- Cotton rope - 4 rolls
- Chalkboard chalk - 6 boxes
- Paper wristbands - 200 pieces
Tips
- Plan one drink station with coolers and water tubs, then allow roughly 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour and 1 drink per hour after that. Chill drinks the day before if your coolers can hold the full quantity.
- For a busy play area, buy or borrow duplicate equipment for popular games rather than one shared item. A practical starting point is 1 ball, rope or game component per active team, plus 10–20% spare equipment.
- Count shelter and seating separately. Provide at least one table for registration, one buffet table for snacks, and enough folding chairs for volunteers and anyone taking a break; add a party tent if shade or rain cover is limited.
- Keep prizes and game materials in separate labelled containers before the event. Prepare one set of playing cards, medal ribbons or trophies per planned competition, with 10% extra for damaged or missing items.
- Do not leave safety and cleanup supplies until the last shopping trip. Buy cones for marking fields, chalk for boundaries, and enough bags or containers to clear snack packaging and wet game equipment after the event.
Frequently asked questions
- How much food and drink do I need for National Outdoor Play Day?
- Allow 2–3 drinks per person during the first hour and about 1 drink per person for each additional hour. For snacks, plan 2–4 portions per person for a short event, then add extra for children, volunteers and dietary requirements.
- What sports equipment do I need for an outdoor play day?
- Choose equipment for each activity station, such as footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, skipping ropes, hoops, cones and relay batons. Start with one usable item per active team and keep 10–20% extra where breakage or loss is likely.
- How many tables and chairs should I buy or bring?
- Reserve at least one table for registration, one for snacks and one for supplies or prizes. Provide one chair per volunteer and enough additional seating for roughly 10–20% of attendees to rest at the same time.
- When should I buy supplies for National Outdoor Play Day?
- Buy non-perishable equipment and decorations 1–2 weeks ahead, then check every item 2–3 days before the event. Purchase chilled food and drinks the day before, after checking the forecast and your cooler capacity.
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